Land Stewardship
The Importance of the Alberta Land Stewardship Act
In the last 25 years, Alberta’s population has grown by over a million people, from 2.3 million in 1985 to more than 3.6 million today. The pressures of this growth are seen everywhere in Alberta. More people mean more activities on the land and a corresponding increase in industrial activities. There is more recreational activity, oil and gas development, agricultural production, and forestry activity on the land. Albertans have seen the impact of this growth and recognized that we have reached a tipping point. We require a more balanced approach that integrates economic, environmental, and social objectives. In short, we need a plan. The Land-use Framework and ALSA were designed and implemented to meet this need. ALSA enables the establishment of seven planning regions congruent with Alberta’s major watersheds and rural municipal boundaries, and requires a plan for each region. Regional plans will consider the combined impact of all activities on the land, air, water and biodiversity, and will be developed with advice from Albertans. Regional plans will integrate provincial energy, environment, water and other policies at the regional level. The purpose of ALSA and regional planning is to facilitate smart economic growth – not stop it. ALSA reflects social and environmental factors, protects property rights and upholds local decision-making. This balanced approach has been widely supported by Albertans. Albertans deserve a responsible, forward-thinking government that properly plans for tomorrow – the Alberta Land Stewardship Act will be one of our most important tools to achieve this. |  ALSA: Further Reading | ||||
